Sony and Microsoft are preparing to launch their next-generation of consoles at the end of this year. Both companies are organizing online events to create hype for their new devices and memberships. Recently, the PlayStation blog published an article on the compatibility of DualShock 4, PS VR, and other officially licensed Peripherals on the PlayStation 5. The main highlight of the article was Dualshock 4 support on PS5. The compatibility is described below-
- DualShock 4 Controller: Can be used to play only supported PS4 games. (The official list of supported games is not out yet.)
- DualSense Controller: Can be used to play both PS4 (supported) and PS5 games.
After this article, some of the gamers in the community were not happy with the decision. People started calling Sony “anti-consumer” and much more. Today I am going to share my personal opinion on this outrage and explain why I think it is fake, illogical, and pointless.
Why the Outrage for PlayStation 4 Controller Support on PS5 is Fake and Illogical
In the history of PlayStation, there has been no generation where we could directly use an old generation controller on new devices. PS1 controllers weren’t supported on the PS2. Meanwhile, the PS2 controllers couldn’t be used on PS3 and so on. This is not something new that we are looking at. Xbox 360 controller is not compatible with the upcoming Xbox Series X and it wasn’t compatible with Xbox One(original).
Also Read, PlayStation 5 Games Will Not Support PS4 Controller, List of Supported Peripherals & More
The PlayStation controllers receive some major changes by each passing generation. Sony always encourages first party and third party game developers to use their hardware features to the fullest. This includes the new gimmicky features that come with new PlayStation controllers. The DualSense PS5 controller features a lot of new changes to the DualShock4. This includes :
- New Design
- USB Type-C charging
- Adaptive triggers with improving actuators/haptic feedback
- Built-in Microphone
- New Create button
- Lightbars on the sides of the touchpad
- Improved battery and
- Built-in speaker
Reasons Why DualShock 4 is not compatible with PS5 games
The DualShock controller lacks many new features that are present in the DualSense controllers. While Sony has clearly said in the past that they will be truly focusing on Next-Generation. This means the first party and third party game development studios will try to use the new haptic feedback/Adaptive triggers with improving actuators in their games.
DualShock 4 cannot technically support that. So, providing support for current generation controllers will either hold back the developers or create an issue while developing.
Why Xbox One controllers are supported with Xbox Series X
Now the biggest comparison people are making while calling Sony’s decision anti-consumer is- Xbox One controllers are supported with Xbox Series X. This is because the Xbox One and Series X controllers are almost identical unlike PlayStation’s DS4 and Dual Sense controllers. The new changes offered by the Series X controller are :
- Share button,
- Hybrid d-pad and
- A slightly altered form factor.
Now, you can clearly understand why the Xbox One controller will work on Series X games or the console itself in general.
Why all of this outrage is actually fake and nothing more
To keep forward my opinion, I will use a few examples. Suppose the time when you used your DDr2 ram, old generation processors, and other components in your PC. Whenever a new and better version of component came out you had to upgrade your motherboard, power supply, and some other components. People don’t complain why an old intel, Asus, or other motherboards doesn’t support the latest hardware.
There are countless other examples that prove that the compatibility of old hardware with new technology is not possible. Even if they can be made compatible, companies avoid that because it would restrict new technology.
A simpler example is Nvidia’s latest graphics cards
When GTX 1080 launched, it was one of the best performing gaming GPU. Although it was expensive many gamers upgraded their system with the card. But soon after we got the RTX series graphics card with Ray Tracing. People who paid thousands of dollars to get the GTX card now had to upgrade their system with RTX cards to use Ray Tracing and some other latest features. Which again would cost them thousands of dollars.
With this I wanted to explain that this is not something new or non-consumer friendly thing. Companies always research to produce better hardware. While to us consumers we always had to choose whether we should get new hardware or stick with old one.
Second Major Point I want to keep is,
Many people in the gaming community complained about the PlayStation controller design. They said it was small, light weighted and some other kinds of stuff. When the DualSense controller is better in terms of ergonomics, designs, features, and more. Players want to use their old controller.
Split-Screen Couch Co-Op games are history
The reason why people need more than one controller is for local multiplayer. Whether it is split-screen or normal co-op. I don’t have a strong opinion against people who buy multiple controllers to play multiplayer. But, I do want to mention that most of the multiplayer games are played over internet.
Most of the games no more support split-screen. So, the use of multiple controllers is situational and optional. You can use them while playing games like Fifa or such. But as I said earlier it’s situational.
Final Thoughts
I think this outrage on PS4 controller support for PS5 games is pointless. Old controllers support on new devices was never a thing in PlayStation. Plus even if Sony did make the PS4 controller compatible, this means I will be missing sensational details while playing a game. So, I am quite happy with Sony’s take on the next generation.
Gaming has always been an expensive form of entertainment from the start. Not a single company or business is consumer-friendly. So, all these community talks on Sony are not Consumer-Friendly and all that is just meaningless and I advise you to keep away from such people. In the end, I would say, the outrage regarding PS4 controller support for PS5 games is not sensible and it’s just a fake outrage. What are your opinions on the matter? Tell me down in the comments.
